Unit 32. We Stuck a Picture of an Elephant.

As we speak, we group words into units depending on meaning and
emphasis. Listen and notice how this speaker divides up what he is
saying: // I can rememher as children// we were rather naughty// once// we stuck a picture// of an elephant// on the back of Dad's coat// before he went out// of course he couldn't see it// so he didn't know why everyone was laughing at him// until he got to work// and took it off//We call these speech units and mark them with //.

Although there are no rules about how we divide speech into units,
some words are more likely to go together than others in order to help
make sense of the message. For example: // we stuck a picture// of an elephant// is more likely than: // we stuck a// picture of an elephant// or: // we stuck a picture of// an elephant//

// until he got to work// and took it off// is more likely than: // until he got to// work and took it off// or: // until he got to work and took// it off//

Sometimes the division of speech into units can make a diference in meaning: (i)// we were rather naughty// once// we stuck a picture// of an elephant// ... (ii)// we were rather naughty once// we stuck a picture// of an elephant// ...

In (i), 'once' goes with 'we stuck
a picture of an elephant' and shows that the speaker is giving an
example of the many times they were naughty. In (ii), 'once' goes with 'we were naughty' and suggests that we were naughty only one time.

(iii)// before he went out// of course he couldn't see it// (iv)// before he went out of course// he couldn't see it//

In (iii), 'of course' goes with 'he couldn't see it' and means that it is obvious that he couldn't see it. In (iv), 'of course' goes with 'before he went out' and means that it is obvious that we stuck it on his coat before he went out.

When we want to emphasise words in order to draw particular attention to them, we can put them into very short speech units:// we were rather naughty// or for emphasis: // we were rather// naughty// // on the back of Dad's coat// or for emphasis: // on the back// of Dad's// coat//

Within speech units, words are usually linked smoothly together, without pauses between them (see also Unit 26): // I can remember as children// /r/ // of course he couldn 't see it///j/ // until he got_to work//

Give special emphasis to the words in bold by putting each one in a
short speech unit. Read the extracts aloud and then compare your
pronunciation with the recording.

1 I've never seen such an incredibly exciting football match.2 She has always helped me and has never refused any request I've made.3 After the day of climbing I was completely exhausted.4 She looked much older - grey and lined - and she used a walking stick.

Follow up: Record
a short extract (about 15 seconds) from a radio or programme. Write out
what was said and then try to mark speech unit boundaries in the text.
Listen to the recording as many times as necessary.